Articulators

Question 1

What is the function of an articulator?

Answer 1

It is an artificial representation of the jaw relationship of a patient

Question 2

What are the features of a simple hinge articulator? (5 points)

Answer 2

Most basic form

• Not actually accurate as it does not represent the correct position of the TMJ
• It holds a static occlusal relationship
• Is often used for display casts
• Dentures can be made on simple hinge articulators

Question 3

What are the features of an average value articulator? (4 points)

Answer 3

Resembles the real anatomy of the TMJ more than a simple hinge

• Allow more movement then simple hinge
• Can stimulate to some degree the masticatory movements of the lower jaw
• The disadvantage is that the movement is prescribed by the manufacturer of the articulator - they determine the angle of the slope (condylar angle) and we cannot adjust this angle to the patient

Question 4

What are the features of a semi-adjustable articulator? (3 points)

Answer 4

Facilitates the movement of protrusion/lateral movement

• We can adjust the angle of the ‘condyle’ so we can have t the same as the patient’s i.e. we can make changes to this type of articulator to make it more representative to the patient
• They can be arcon or non-arcon

Question 5

What is an ‘arcon’ semi-adjustable articulator?

Answer 5

The fossae (condylar guidance) are on the upper member of the articulator and the spheres (condylar element) is attached to the lower member - this articulator resembles the TMJ

Question 6

What is a ‘non-arcon’ semi-adjustable articulator?

Answer 6

The fossae (condylar guidance) are on the lower member of the articulator and the spheres (condylar element) is attached to the upper member - this articulator is the reverse of the TMJ

Question 7

What are the features of a fully adjustable articulator? (3 points)

Answer 7

We can adjust the condylar angle and condylar distance

• Can make it accurate and specific to patient
• It allows accurate replication of the 3 dimensional movement of recorded mandibular motions